Powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake hits Panama, damaging buildings
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama, causing significant damage to buildings and infrastructure across several towns. While no casualties have been reported, authorities are managing evacuations and assessing the impact of the shallow, powerful tremor.
Why it matters
Major seismic events pose immediate threats to human life and infrastructure, requiring urgent humanitarian and emergency response efforts.
Figure caption, Watch: Moment part of building collapses during Panama earthquake
A massive magnitude 7.7 earthquake has hit Panama, damaging buildings and causing widespread shaking.
About 4.6 million people felt moderate to severe tremors as a result of the quake, according to the US Geological Survey, which has said that the effects of the quake were "likely to be widespread".
It struck just before 15:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Friday, with an epicentre about 6.2 miles (10km) from the town of Pitaloza Arriba in south-central Panama.
Footage shared online appears to show collapsed buildings in the towns of Penonomé and Soná, including one of a man calling out to anyone trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building. No casualties have so far been reported.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, A maternity ward in Panama City was among the buildings evacuated during the tremors
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6 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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